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Windows 12 Reportedly Set for Release This Year as a Fully Modular, Subscription-Based, AI-Focused OS

Hahahaha, yes! Just fucking do it M$, it will be glorious to see them willingly and freely cut their own guts open - Seppuku style.

Bill Hader Reaction GIF


Hollywood might be dead, but luckily big corpo makes up for it with entertaining, satirical and dystopian buffoonery.
 
Topher said:
Been using CachyOS as my primary PC OS for months now. It's pretty awesome. I'm not sure it is the best for newcomers tho
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Than Mint. But I think some gaming stuff things Cachy is doing is pretty newcomer friendly...with all these optional checklists at the beginning for example.
 
I use to use Debian a lot back in the day but now days it's easier for me to deconstruct Ubuntu that to build up a Debian install.
 
Microsoft has a track record of introducing something everyone hates, backing off after the backlash, and then quietly bringing it back once everyone has already bought the product.
 
LectureMaster said:
The modular aspect of the OS is Microsoft's CorePC architecture project that they've been working on for years. It will redefine the Windows experience by allowing the addition and removal of components. This will help customise the OS for each build, whether it's a lighter-weight system, a gaming-prioritised build, etc.
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Likely also a necessity to make their next Xbox function, and to allow better gaming performance by letting you completely shut off components of the OS you have no need for.

LectureMaster said:
Some parts of the OS might also be locked away behind a subscription model that are expected to be "advanced AI services", etc.

These AI features won't come cheaply, with Windows 12 set to debut a new hardware requirement just as its predecessor did with the TPM 2.0 requirement. This time around, a dedicated NPU would be required, a specialized processor designed to handle AI tasks.

NPUs are still early-stage chips and not widely adopted across all systems. This requirement will lock out millions of PC owners from updating to Microsoft's next OS, but fortunately, Windows 11 support will last for another few years.
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This shit though...it's like they want me to just use Linux full-time. I'm not stacking another sub fee on just to use parts of my OS, much less buy a whole new CPU just to get an NPU with it for AI tasks my GPU can already do locally. Their AI isn't even is as good as Claude.

The transparent glass that floats also not a selling point, when I can already do that in Windows 11 now:
zQXmHldzrOGmLv2I.png
uDJ9N8r782KMLYZG.png
 
Who wants AI? I want the AERO interface back

If they are going to screw this up the better go full retarded.
 
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princelashawn said:
Microsoft has a track record of introducing something everyone hates, backing off after the backlash, and then quietly bringing it back once everyone has already bought the product.
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And don't forget spamming you with "free upgrade" reminders until it decides to auto-install when you're not around.
 
Long-term, I guess it's going to be Steam OS for gaming, then.

I hope Nvidia starts supporting Linux properly, but if they don't, I guess we're all migrating to AMD and will just need to accept that the top-end will be reduced.
 
Wilhelm_85 said:
Long-term, I guess it's going to be Steam OS for gaming, then.

I hope Nvidia starts supporting Linux properly, but if they don't, I guess we're all migrating to AMD and will just need to accept that the top-end will be reduced.
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They already are, drivers have gotten considerably better, and they're hiring more dedicated engineers for it. Performance gap will continue to get narrower.

Coconutt said:
Fucking disgusting miss me with that subscription bullshit. If someone wants to switch to Linux whats a good place to start?
unimpressed michael keaton GIF
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Just go with any rolling release distro. Linux Mint is slower to get updates for things.

CachyOS I do think is the overall best option for gaming with a large community, and if you want something that is less customizable but more automated like SteamOS...go with Bazzite.
 
NPU requirement is a big nope. why can't they just use GPU's for AI stuff?

Ain't no way I'm replacing my 1 year old 9950X3D or 5090 lmao.

Usually I always update to a new Windows release at launch but this will turn even me away.
 
CLW said:
So how long before this jump to subscription OS is FORCED down our throats
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Microsoft is slowly conditioning customers for that. Started with Office 365. Windows 12 will be the next step. Can't do it too fast. People will get spicious. Gotta ease 'em into it.
 
So apparently it's just some (?) of the AI features that require a subscription. For example, to do more demanding things with help from the cloud.

Seems like you should still be able to freely upgrade from 10/11 or purchase a license as normal.

Also, the NPU requirement might just be for the AI features and not a base requirement to actually install or run the OS.

That's fine with me. If I'm doing any AI stuff it's not with a Microsoft product or on an NPU but my GPU.
 
My Windows use started when you launched it from DOS. I guess 10 will be the last one I use on a personal machine. I hoped there was some energy behind the idea of a Pro version, but it's Microsoft we're talking about and we know who runs that place now.
 
Problem is… will the normies help them achieve their goal? We can all migrate or stay on win11, but the con is losing support and the eventual protection against threats, should we stay on Win11.
Linux seems like the future if we want to remain independent of this AI BS.
 
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